Linotype-machine.



F. B. CONVERSE. LINO'LYPE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED I'EB.15, 190s.RENEWED APR. 6, 1909.

Patented June 22, 1909.

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F. B. CONVERSE. LINOTYPE I AOHINE, v wrmon'mn Plum rnn'.1s, 190s.nnn-zwnn AFB. 5, 1909. -.925,755.

Patented June 22, 1909.

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P. B. CONVERSE. LINOTYPE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1908.RENEWED APR. 5, 1909. r 925,755, Patented June 22,1909.

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FRANCIS B. CONVERSIQOF BROOKLYN, 511W. .i'Ollli, ASSIGNOR T0MERGEN'IHALER LINOTYPE COMPANY, A. COR-POI'tA'lION OF NEW YORK.

LIN'O'IYPE -MA.CHINE Specification 01" Letters Patent.

Fatented June 22, 1909.

Application filed February 15, 1908, Serial No. 6,053. Renewed April 5,1909. Serial No. 488,069.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F RANCIS B. GoNvin-isn,

of borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings,

and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvement inLinotype-Mm chines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to that class of line-casting machines,generally known under the trade mark Linotype, in which composed linesof matrices are presented successively to the face of a slotted mold, inorder to produce lines of type characters on the edge of type metalslugs cast therein. At the present day, it is a common practice to adaptthese machines for the production of two different alphabets byproviding each matrix with the same character in two styles or sizes,and so arranging the mechanism that the matrices may be assembled andtransferred to the mold at a high or a low level, in order that theupper or the lower characters may cooperate therewith, as desired.

Mechanisms heretofore in use have generally been constructed in suchmanner that each matrix added to the line in the course of compositionmay be adjusted to the upper or the lower level as demanded, a doublesystem of horizontal guides being provided to maintain the matrices attheir respective levels during their transference to the mold.

My improvement is intended more particularly for use in connection withthe machine represented in my application for Letters Patent oftheUnited States filed on the 9th day of November, 1907, Serial No.401,412. In this machine it is not convenient to make use of thematrix-controlling mechanism such as above described, and I thereforeprovide for setting all the matrices in the first instance on a commonlevel, and thereafter changing the level of the entire composed line inrelation to the mold, so as to present the upper or the lower charactersthereto, as deman ded. The shifting mechanism is preferably arranged infront of or adjacent to the mold, and combined with automatic mechanismfor restoring the line-support to the nor mal level.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section from front to rearthrough the casting mechanism, with my improvement incorporated therein.Fig. 2' is a similar cross-section on an enlarged scale with the partsin casting position and the matrices alined to cast the uppercharacters. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the matrices adjusted to castthe lower characters. F 4 is a perspective view from the front with theviseknee and its line-confining jaws removed, showing the delivery endofthe assemblage channel, the mold, galley, and adjacent parts. Fig. 5 isa vertical section through one end of the mold and the connected meansfor advancing the line of-matrices beyond the casting position. Fig. 6is a hori zont al section through the means for advancing the linebeyond the casting gether with the right-hand jaw and adjacent parts.Fig. 7 is a right-hand side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4 withthe linesupporting and advancing devices shown in verticalcross-section. Fig. Sis a perspective view looking from the rear andshowing principally the rear face of the vise-knee, the lineconiiningjaws, and adjacent parts,-the lefthand jaw being shown in its forward orinactive position to resist the line as the latter is advanced to thecasting position. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the right-handvise-jaw looking from the rear. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one ofthe two-letter matrices such as are used in the machine. Fig. 1 l is aloi'igitudinal Fig.,12 is a llhorizontal section through the casting.mechanism on the line 12-42,

Fi 11." lhe matrices Y, used in the machine and shown in Fig. 10, are ofthe same general shape as those used in the well-known Mergenthalerlinotype machines, They consist each of a body portion having its upperend notched and provided with distributing teeth 3 its corners providedwithlugs 'y, y, g and 3 and one of the vertical edges provided with theintaglio characters or matrices proper 3 and y. y

Matrices representing the characters for one line are assembled orcomposed into lines (see Fig. .4) with interposed justifiers or spacersZ of the usual type, each consisting of two oppositely tapered wedges.The ine is com'i'osed (see Fig. 4) in an assemblage channel Fbetween twoplates f, f ,on which the upper shoulders of the matrices and justiiiersrest. The composed line 18 advanced from the assemblage position towardthe left to the casting position by a horizontal pusher including twoplates 'n and 12/,

position, to-

vertical section on the line l1-l1', Fig. 2, looking toward the rear.

5 assemblage channel F terminates at a point did, ointly guide andsustain the composed line ported thereby. The bar f has its upper 20.front of the mold in a position to receive and end of .a Vertical slide0. When the parts tains the justifiers independently of the level thatthey may be transferred laterally :5 spring 0 and depressed by a cam 0It will 0 Figs. 2 and 3, while the matrices ride upon the matrices, asshown in Fig. 8, by a stud i (Fig. 12) projecting from a slidingwedgebar i and engaging the shoulder on the jaw. The wedge-bar isconnected by a link 2' with a lever having cam connections, as in myprior application, whereby it is moved forward and backward in order notonly to move the "stud 2' but also to crowd the jaw laterally againstthe matrix line. When the j I is drawn forward to its inoperativeposition, a latch-pin i (Fig.3?) engages a notch in the lower face ofthe wedge-bar i and holds the parts in their inoperative positions. Asthe matrix line is advanced to the casting position, a block 2' (Figs. 7and 11) on the under side of the line-pushing plate a engages an arm 2''(Figs. 7, 8 and 11) on a horizontal.rock-shaft i, which carrieson itsforward end an. arm 1' (Figs. 7 and 8) which engages the latch-pine,before referred to, in order to effect its disengagement from thewedge-bar i thereby unlocking the bar and the jaw I, so that the lattermay be projected rearward across the end of the line of matrices. Inbrief, the act of ad- 'vancing the matrix line to the casting positioncauses the advance of the jaw I behind the line to-confine it insuchposition.

The two matrix-confining jaws and the justifier-elevator O are mountedin a casting 9, known as the casting-vise knee, and formv guided ingrooves in the side plates. This pusher is actuated by a hand-lever andconnect10ns, shown'in my original application and foreign to the presentinvention. The

just to the right of the casting position, but it is continued in effectto the left by the horizontal plate f ,.the fixed bar f, and the'y'ertically movable j ustifier-elevator O, which lie-casting position.The plate f has its ppe'r edge, in line with the lower rear earsofthe'matrices, so that as the line is shifted to the left, they ridethereon-and are supat t surface in position to receive and support theforward upper ears of the matrices as the line is advanced at theassembling level.

The justifier-elevator O, which standsin sustain the upper ends of thejustifiers Z when they are in the casting position, consistsof twohorizontal arms fastened to distance pieces between them, and to theupper are-in the casting position, this elevator sus matrices, and afterthe casting action, the rise of the'justifier-elevator serves to liftthe ustifiers out of the matrix line and to such mg a part of themain-frame. This casting, which is locked rigidly in position by ancecentric shaft 0 provided with a handle 0' (Fig. 1), may be unlocked atwill and moved forward to give access to the other parts. hen the lineis in the casting position, it stands directly-in front of and incontact with a horizontally slotted mold K, which is momentarily closedat the remand supplied with molten metal by the mouth of the melting-potM. The mold is movable to and from the matrix line, and the pot ismovable to and from the mold, as heretofore.

to their magazine. The elevator 0 receives motion, as shownin Fig. 1,through a link 0, and an elbow-lever'o, which is raised by a beunderstood that as the line of matrices and spacers is shiftedhorizontally to the casting position, the ears of the spacers enter thegrooves 0 in the elevator O, as shown in the upper edges of the plate f7 and barf", by which they are sustained in position.

'J is the jaw for confining and supporting the left end-of the matrixline at the casting position. It is in the form of a horizontallysliding block seated-in the justifier-e-levator O, with ribs guided ingrooves 0 therein. It stands normally at the right side of the elevatorwhen the latter is down and supports the forward end of the matrix lineas the latter is advanced to the left toward the casting position. Themovement of this jaw in advance of the line is limited by an adjustablestop 7' (Figs. 11 and 12) which is seated firmly in the elevator andengages a lugy' on the bottom of the jaw.

During the justifying and casting operavtions, the line is confinedbetween the jaw J andthe right-hand jaw I. The jaw 1 con- .sists of abar having a forward and backward sliding movement across the end of thema trix line. A spring 2' urges the jaw rearward to its operativeposition; as shown in Fig. 12. .The jaw is drawn forward and heldnormally i'in an inactive position beyond the path of and arranged tooperate as in my prior application.

Passing now to the parts which form the subject-matter of the presentinvention, for the purpose of supporting and vertically ad- 1,15, justmgthe matrix line, I seat in the viseknee .0 a vertically guided slide t,having in its upper end a horizontal groove t adapted to receive andconfine the lower forward ears of the matrices. 'By moving this plateupward and downward, the entire line of matrices may be raised orlowered, so asto present their loweror their upper characters oppositethe mold and' in position to form characters on the slugs cast therein.The plate is urged constantly upward by a spring if bearing against thestud thereon. For the purpose of locking the plate down when required, asliding pin i is seated in the frame in position to enter a hole t'formed 1n the .130

The foregoing parts may all be constructed drawn slide. The pin'isprovided with circumferent al grooves to receive a spring-actuated pinf, by which the pin may be held in either of its two positions. In thenormal operation of the machine, the slide is locked down by the pin sothat the matrices are received and used in the lower position, or inother words, at the assembling level, so that their up er characters areproduced on the slugs. Vhen it is required to produce the lowercharacters, the pin is withby hand and the slide permitted to raise theentire line of matrices from the lower position shown in Fig. 2, to theupper position shown in Fig. 3. It will be rememered that after thecasting operation, the spacers Z are lifted out of the line by the eevator O. It is desirable that the matrices which remain behind, shallbe lowered to .their original level, in order that they may be shiftedto the left preparatory to their elevation and distribution, asheretofore. To this end, I providethe slide t with a stud t, whichprojects beneath the vertically movable justifier-bar 2, alreadyreferred to. After the. casting action, this bar descends from theposition shown in Fig. 3, to that shown in Fig. 2. In so doingyitdepresses the stud t and plate t, lowering the entire matrix line at oneoperation to the original level. The plate remains in this position notonlv during the transfer of tie first matrix line to the left, but alsountil it re- -ceives the next matrix line from the right. It will beobserved, therefore, that it the lower matrix characters are to be usedcontinuously, the pin is withdrawn and permitted to remain in theposition shown in Fig. 3, and that the matrix line will be re ceivcd infront of the mold at the lower love and automatically lifted by theplate I. as the latter is released by the rise of the justiiierbar 2*,and the line finally lowered automatically to its original level afterthe casting action. In other words, the line importing plate t isautomatically ra' whenever the lower matrix charz'tcters are beingemployed. If, on. the other hand, the upper'matrix characters are to becontinuously employed, the plate may be locked down and permitted toremain in position.

The upward movement of the plate t is limited by its contact with theunder surface of the bar f, as shown. in. Fig. 3.

It is, I believe, wholly new provide means for presentin line ofmatrices in one castin the mold, and means for 1310?. automatically to'asecond castin position prior to the casting action. It is a so whollynew in the art, I believe, to providemeans for guiding the composed lineof matrices in a continuous path from the assembling to the castingposition, and thence in a continuing course to the elevating position,in combinain the art to a corny. rscd tron be! ed and lowered castingposition, is advantageous in that the operator is relieved from the careand labor of watching and shifting the line, and mitted to direct lnsattention to the [comp y positively and at the proper time, so that nooversight or carelessness on the part of the operator can prevent theproper sequences of o ierations. r

horizontal shoulders to engage the'lowerrear ears of the matrices whenthey are in the upper, as well as when they are i n,,the lower,positions,

The justiiicr-ba'r z", and the other parts,- are so shaped andcontrolled that the slidet is permitted to complete its upward movementbefore the bar 2 encounters the lower end ofthe justifiers Z. Thejustifier-bar is actuated, as shown in. Fig. 1, by a link 2 and theelbow-lever 2 urged upward by a spring 2 and forced downward by a came".This cam is provided with a surface 2 which er- Inits the justifier-barto rise and lift the s ide t the required distance before the justifyingactions take place. The-concentric face 2' of this cam, which holds downthe justiiicr between the justifying actions, of the same radius as theportions 2' and 2 and conse quently the justi'fier-bar is not drawn downfar enough to engage the lug t after the plate has been permitted torise, until the increas ing face 2 comes into action subsequent to thecompletion of the casting operation and the unlocking of the line ofmatrices.

While I have described my improvement in a form more especially adaptedfor appii cation to the machine shown inmy prior application, it is tobeunderstood tlnrtit may be widely modified as to form and ar lrangement of the parts, and that it may be ap )lied to all analogousmachines. p 'Iaving thus described my invention, I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Pate1it:-

1. In a line-casting machine; r means for guiding the composedlinelofiiiritrices endwise to and beyond the rnolihin combination withmeans for raising at the casting point momentarily ab level at which itis advanced, and-i turning it to said level; whereby the meiadvancing ata constant level, may be presented to the mold in an upper or required.2. In a tion of the mold at a fixed height, two-letter sition of asecond line; and also advantageous in that the shifting of the line iseffected] exact alinement ,of. the characters vertically being thussecured: 1 3

line-casting machine, the combine- Tie mold is provided, as shown' with;

lower position as matrices having cars, a vertically movable memberadapted to engage'the ears of. the com osed matrices, means fortransferring the ine endwise to said member, and means for continuingthemovement of the line endwise therefrom at the same level; whereby theline ma be carried to and from the mold at a'fixed evel and presentedmomentarily thereto at a higher level'when required.

matrices,- means for assembling them in line, a mold at a fixed level,

a line-elevator'beyond the. mold, -means for advancing the composed lineendwise ina continuous path from-the assembling position to the mold,and thence to the elevator, and means for lifting the line momentarilyat the casting position above the level of the ad- Q line -movablevertically in re jacent guides, and again lowering it to the originallevel for transference to the elevator.

. nation, a mold at a fixed level, two-letter matrices, a support forthe composed matrix ation to the mold to present the upper or lowermatrix characters thereto, a spring tending to move the support to oneposition, means for locking the same in the other position, and meansfor delivering the matrix line endwise to said support in one of itspositions; whereby the composed line of matrices, after presentationbefore the mold, may be shifted vertically in relation thereto, andthereafter returned to I theoriginal level.

6. In a line-castingmachine, a mold, twoletter matrices, means forholding a composed line of matrices in one casting position beforethemold, means for presenting the composed line'to the holding position,andautomatic means for moving the line-holder from its normal positionto a second casting position prior to the casting action.

' ,7. In a lineecast ing machine and in comd binationwith aline-of-two-letter matrices, a

mold, means for shifting the line of matrices inrelation to the mold topresent their different characters thereto, a spring tending to move theline-shifting device 111 one direction, means for locking the shiftingdevice against the action of the spring, and automatic means formovingthedevice against the resistance of the-spring.

p The combination in a line-casting ma chine, of two-letter 4. In aline-casting machine, the combination means in said- .8. In aline-casting machine, the combination of two-letter matrices, and adevice for shifting the matrix line to present different characters inthe justifier-bar arranged to control said shifting device.

' 9. In aline-casting machine, a mold and two-letter matrices, incombination with guldes extending llOllZOllliiLllYiO and beyond the moldand adapted to sustain the matrices at one casting level, said guidesincluding a movable member in front of the mold, whereby the matrix linemay be shifted in relation to the mold to another casting level.

10. In a line-casting machine, the mold and the adjacentmatrix-shiftingplate t, in

combination with a spring i and a mecha'm ically actuatedbar 2 acting tomove the plate.

in opposition to the spring. 11. The matrix-supports mold K, incombination with G and f and plate 25, matrices Y, justifiers J, springZ3," and a locking device t";

12. In a line-casting machine, a mold,

two-letter matrices, means for supporting a composed line of matrices ina casting position before the mold, automatic means for shifting saidsupport to present the matrix line in a different casting position;whereby the matrices normally presented with one set of charactersopposite the mold are shifted automatically and at the proper time topresent the other characters thereto.

13. In combination with a mold, twoletter matrices and a movable supportfor casting position, with a the justifierelevator O, mechamcallyreciprocate'dbar z", 1-

the composed matrices beforethe mold,

automatic means for shifting the support efiecting a change in thematrix characters presented to the mold, and controllable meansforpreventing the action of the auto-I matic mec anism; wherebythecharacters -originally presented to the mold areretained in operativerelation thereto.

matrices, and continuous horizontal guides for the composed matrix; lineextended tov the mold from one side,' and continued therefrom on theopposite sid the guides infront ofthe mold being vertically movablethat-the matrices presentedat one level may be raised mold; and thenlowered to. theoriginal level to continuetheir course.

In testimony whereof I hereunto hand/this- 6th day of. February, '1908,in the presenceiof two attesting witnesses.

FRANCIS B'. coNvit'-Rsn Witnesses:

JOHN R. ROGERS, DAVID .S. KENNEDY.

In a line-casting machine, two-letterin .front of the..

